Although the Chicago Bulls have surpassed all their expectations this season, they need an insurance plan for Nikola Vucevic. The former All-Star has had a solid year but is the only reliable center the Bulls have at the moment. Chicago has its eyes set on a young member of the San Antonio Spurs to provide a strong backup center option.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Bulls are looking to add Jakob Poeltl. The Spurs aren't eager to trade him away, though.

To convince San Antonio to surrender Jakob Poeltl, sources say, would require a future first-round pick and a quality player. Chicago is among numerous teams, along with Toronto as I reported on Jan. 14, to register interest in the Austrian 7-footer, who is a proven defensive anchor in Year 2 of an absolute steal of a three-year, $26.3 million contract. One theory in circulation: The Spurs would be more open to moving Poeltl had Gregg Popovich already broken the league's all-time record for coaching victories. Popovich remains seven shy of passing his pal Don Nelson's 1,335 career wins.

Poeltl would be a solid addition for the Bulls due to his underrated defensive abilities. Yet, for that precise reason and the fact that he is just 26 years old, San Antonio is reluctant to trade him. The tidbit about Popovich's record may be conjecture but Poeltl's valuable skills are likely why he won't be traded away easily.

Stein reports that the Spurs want a first-round pick in exchange for Poeltl. However, the Bulls can't offer one in the next few years since they dealt away two in the trade that landed them Vucevic. The Bulls could go in other directions ahead of the trade deadline and find a center elsewhere if they can't find one to get the Spurs.